18th-19th November 2013

Tuesday 19th November

The opposite of yesterday - very bright and breezy, but still a few birds about.

First, a bit of late - and interesting - news from Terry Rawlings, who was 100% certain he heard a Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker at Halsey's Farm on 13th November, though he was unable to see it.

Selsey Bill: Unsurprisingly, C&ME reported the Bill as dead, bar a Great Northern Diver offshore.
BFF et al repoted the following - arriving late we found a close Black–throated Diver just offshore, 6 Common Scoter and Red-throated Diver flying E.
Not strictly at the Bill, but SH had a call from a friend in the town reporting a Little Owl sat on scaffolding outside his house first thing this morning!

Church Norton: The Spoonbill was still getting its eight-hours in on Tern Island, though it did look up briefly when the Peregrine flushed everything around it. The harbour was full of waders, 200+ Knot, similar of Grey Plover and at least 800 Brent Geese on the rising tide, along with half a dozen each of Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit, and at least 200 Golden Plover went up over the North Wall.

Peregrine at Church Norton 19/11/13 (AH)

The female Merlin was showing nicely on the Spit, and interestingly C&ME reported another along Rectory Lane at the same time, suggesting possibly two birds.

Merlin on Church Norton Spit 19/11/13 (AH)

Offshore, the two Velvet Scoter were still present, though distant, plus 4 Slavonian Grebes, 8 Great Crested Grebes and 14 Red-Breasted Mergansers.
Finally, in the churchyard, there were 2 Redwing and 2 Fieldfare early on.

Slavonian Grebes offshore from Church Norton 19/11/13 (AH)

Monday 18th November

A very dreary grey day, but virtually windless which is always a pleasant change. The Bill was completely dead but elsewhere there was still a fair selection of birds to be seen.

First some news from yesterday - Sa & S H report that the four Snow Buntings were still present late afternoon.

Also JA, having recovered from his excursion, has confirmed that the Yellow Wagtail was indeed the latest ever at the Bill (but only by a day from the previous record on 16/11/00).

Medmerry: The Black Redstart was still present this morning, along with a pair of Stonechats, a dozen Meadow Pipits and five Linnets. Also a Curlew, 40 Brent Geese and 9 Ringed Plovers over and a pair of Gadwall on the pools.(AH & SR)

Church Norton: A Firecrest was in the churchyard and the Spoonbill was still asleep on Tern Island. On the flat-calm sea, 2 female Velvet Scoters, the female Eider, 24 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Great Crested Grebes and now 5 Slavonian Grebes were all visible through the murk.(AH)

A classic Spoonbill pose! On Tern Island 18/11/13 (AH)

 

North Fields area: My first bike ride around the harbour area for several weeks. Honer Reservoir 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan,1 Little Grebe.Also a flock of c85 finches, mostly Linnet but also containing Goldfinches, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers,Greenfinches and Chaffinches around the weedy field by Honer Reservoir. Breech Pool, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, fields 30 Curlew, Halsey’s Farm 1 Stonechat, Marsh Farm c 750 Brent Geese, Fisher Farm 1 Goldcrest, 6 Yellowhammer.(CRJ)

 

Selsey Bill: Took a brief look at the Bill where the mist was hanging heavily, two Rock Pipits flew in over the Oval Field, three Pied Wagtails were also on the field, and a Red-breasted Merganser flew close in heading east, then the rain came down ......... (SR)

 

Rock Pipit at Selsey Bill 18/11/13 (SR)